Troubled DStv Premiership club Royal AM have found themselves sucked into another embarrassing war of words in the matter related to Ricardo Nascimento.
Nascimento took up his breach of contract issue by Royal AM with FIFA and was handed an award R600 000 (effective September 2023 with an interest of 5% per annum).
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While his case has been the reason for the implementation of a three-window initial transfer ban sanction, the Brazilian has returned home and joined Rio Branco Esporte Clube in the 2024 Campeonato Paulista.
"Firstly, it is not true that Royal AM has paid what is due to Ricardo," discloses Pedro Felipe Gomes da Silva, partner of RA Law firm based in Sao Paulo, Brazil who represents Nascimento.
"If they did, where is the proof because Ricardo hasn't received anything.
"So, if they paid why didn't they say so and prove that to FIFA during the hearing last year and why has the transfer ban related to Ricardo been imposed?
"They couldn't present any proof of payment, so they are making false payment claims about Ricardo.
"They also claim that they filed an appeal but as the respondent in this case, we were not informed despite the fact that normal procedure dictates that we are kept abreast.
"They failed to present any counter claim when the case was being heard which is why FIFA upheld their decision.
"Strangely, they are now saying they challenged FIFA's decision when they didn't.
"We didn't win all the claims that were presented to FIFA but with what we won they haven't paid up to this date.
"The contract had three dates, one-year, 18 months, and four years and so FIFA took the 18 months contract and the compensation for that still hasn't been paid.
"The award from FIFA was for the months that remained for Ricardo's contract with the club.
"It was a termination without discourse, which meant they had to pay the salary until the end of the contract, but they didn't do that.
"At the end of the day, they have a FIFA ban enforced because they didn't respect the FIFA award.
"With Royal AM, we tried to engage them for months through their GM (Richard Makhoba) before we went to FIFA.
"Unfortunately, he was arrogant in his response.
"Maybe they only listen when they are under pressure or have been exposed for how they conduct their operations," says Felipe.
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In their statement on Tuesday, Royal AM said their legal representatives are in the process of clarifying their issues with FIFA.
They stated that the registration ban will be uplifted in due course.